Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-09-15
Hunting for AlligatOrs.

Have you ever enjoyed an alligato.
hunt? If you have not, my experience
may be interesting Before. starting
out I was told that alligator hunting
was an exciting sport. found it par.
ticularly so. Yesterday We chartered
steam launch for the trip. Our party
consisted of five who had never seen an
alligator in Ais~astive~aeme, and the
captain of the launch, who was an old
sportsman in alligator hunting.
We were armed with good rifles, and
had full supply of ammunition. Our
destination was Lake Cypress and Cy-
press river, where reports said that al
ligators were plentiful. The trip across
the lake was very fine and in the mouth
Of the Distan Canal, Which connects the
Cypress lake with Cypress river, and as
about ten miles long. 1t is cut through
a country Of rich tropical growth. In
an hour and half we reached small
er lake, and on the opposite side was
the wished for Cypress river.
Our trolling line had resulted in
fine mess oftish. Finding good camp
ing ground We landed, built fire and
began cooking the catch. which, with
cur stores. furnished an excellent meal.
We then pushed our way up the riv-
er and were soon among the alligaors.
The first we saw was a good sized
creature over eight feet long, and l am
not likely to forget it for some time.
The ANIMAL lay apparently asleep on
the bank among tall grass and palmetto
bushes. The captain raised his rife
and blazed away. His aim was good
and the ball struck the ght eye. In
stead Of making for the water, as wound.
ed alligators generally do, the creatu re
lay quite still. We all believed it was
dead, and working the boat to the shore
we leaped on the bank with shout Of
victory. One of the party caught the
prize by the tail and endeavored to pull
it further up the bank while we hailed
our companions. But the alligator was
not dead. With one flap of its tail it
sent us heels upward in very much less
time than it takes to write the fact.
The rest of the party began to beat
hasty retreat toward the boat whileI
was picking myself up. At that nom.
ent the captain shouted to run for dear
life, as he had chit a hornets nest"
The alligator was female and was
nursing a nest Of young. The rest of
the party got safely on the boat, but as
l was nearest the wounded alligator her
sound eye soon detected me and the
chase began. With wide open mouth
and bristling sharp teeth she made for
me, and my retreat was cut off. was
not long in discovering that l was on Il
small island. The alligator appeared
every. moment to grow larger sand larg-
er to my distorted vision. was fairly
cornered, and at last took to the water,
forgetful In my fright that an alligator
is as formidable in the water as on land.
AS dashed into the river the Alliga-
tor was close upon me. l expected ev.
cry moment to have those wide open
jaws shut about my body. There l
stood up to my waist in the river, and
within six feet of me was the madened
alligator, one eye running with blood,
the other like burning coal. l could
have shot her easily but found that my
rifle was not loaded and all my ammu'
milton was in the boat. was in des'
pair and was considering whether to
swim to the boat or club my rifle and
fight, when hsspdsa rifle crack, follow
ed quickly by another, and the alliga-
tor was corpse.
The party then landed, built Il fire,
and l dried my clothes, while the others
ate dinner. Some how l did not have
much appetite left. We re.embarked
and started after more alligators.
did not leave the boat after that.
but with the rest did some fair shoot
ing. We killed nine, piled all the car.
casses in the rowboats behind the launch
and took them down the river to our
first camping ground.-Kissimmee (Fla)
Cortspo"pcnce.
-R A-